Best Theology & Ministry Schools Near Chico, CA (2026)

Updated September 1, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Chico, California has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs. Chico has a population of about 102,032. Median household income is $67,929 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 41.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In California, the top-earning theology-related role is Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary at a median $105,820 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Theology Schools to Chico

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer theology programs near Chico, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Chico city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Chico. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

Sort:
#1

Shasta Bible College and Graduate School

Redding, CA 61.8 miles from Chico
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
20.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 36%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $28,891
Avg net price $30,437/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 2

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Simpson University

Redding, CA 65.2 miles from Chico
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
50.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 68%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $54,340
Avg net price $27,817/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 61%
  • Programs offered: 20

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

William Jessup University

Rocklin, CA 70.5 miles from Chico
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
51.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 61%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $56,257
Avg net price $28,062/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 73%
  • Programs offered: 25

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Epic Bible College & Graduate School

Sacramento, CA 80.6 miles from Chico
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
20.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 19%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $37,822
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 2

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary

El Dorado Hills, CA 88.4 miles from Chico
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
28.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 43%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $35,418
Avg net price $21,680/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 61%
  • Programs offered: 5

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Pacific Union College

Angwin, CA 88.5 miles from Chico
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
68.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 41%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $70,484
Avg net price $41,008/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 88%
  • Programs offered: 29

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Dominican School of Philosophy & Theology

Berkeley, CA 131.8 miles from Chico
  • 4 year
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 3

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California theology page.

Theology Wages Near Chico

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (California, statewide)
Clergy$77,710
Director of Religious Activities and Education$61,570
Religious Worker, All Other$45,440
Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary$105,820

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.

Chico at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population102,032Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$67,929Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+41.3%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)101.2 (above U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Chico-Area Cities With Theology Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited theology schools are near Chico, CA?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs near Chico. The closest is Shasta Bible College and Graduate School in Redding, CA (61.8 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary (88.4 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying theology roles in California?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying theology-related roles in California are: Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary ($105,820), Clergy ($77,710), Director of Religious Activities and Education ($61,570). Wages for Chico workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Paradise instead of Chico?

Paradise, CA is 11.1 miles from Chico and has its own set of local theology programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Chico an affordable place to study theology?

Chico’s median household income of $67,929 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Chico while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and California public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.

Learn More About Theology Programs

Other Programs Available in Chico

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Chico:

Data verified: September 1, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.

Back to Best Theology & Ministry Schools in California (2026)